YOU printed a photograph (May 25) of a group of people alongside a
sign which read "The Right To Refuse To Kill".

I'll bet that not one of them has ever been asked or ordered
to kill (another human being, presumably).

Are they referring to our armed services? If so, I would point out
that there are numerous units in our armed services in which few, if
any, of their members would ever be called upon to kill an enemy.

Almost every serviceman is trained to take such offensive action,
when necessary, but very few of them would ever be called upon to kill
another human being.

Have the people in your photograph never heard of the wonderful
stretcher-bearers who can be found well up with the action, when bullets
are flying around in all directions? They may not be aware that in WWI a
young soldier told his commanding officer that his conscience would not
allow him to kill another person - but he hastened to add that he would
volunteer for stretcher-bearer duties.

His CO agreed and that man went on to be the most decorated other
rank in the British army.

He was William Harold Coltman, a Lance Corporal in the North
Staffordshire Regiment. He won the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished
Conduct Medal and Bar and the Military Medal and Bar.

Now he was a man among men. Not for him a desk job well away from
any action which could frighten him.

Could the people shown in your photograph volunteer for any job in
the front line where they would have only a Red Cross armband to protect
them? TG Noel Egerton Heol Cefn Mably Lisvane

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